Gene Hackman suffered from Alzheimer’s and died one week after his wife Besty, who he may not have been ‘aware’ had passed

Legendary actor Gene Hackman‘s cause of death has been revealed as severe cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease playing a significant contributing role, New Mexico officials announced Friday (March 7, 2025). The 95-year-old screen icon lived for approximately a week after his wife, Betsy Hackman, succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—a severe respiratory condition transmitted through contact with infected rodents—in their shared living room, according to officials.

The two-time Oscar winner, whose illustrious Hollywood career spanned four decades, and his wife of 30 years, accomplished classical pianist Betsy Hackman, were discovered in different rooms of their residence during a wellness check on Feb. 26. While no external trauma was evident on either body, investigators noted that Hackman’s pacemaker had recorded its final reading on Feb. 17, suggesting he had been deceased for at least seven days before being found in a mud room adjacent to the couple’s kitchen. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza initially stated that foul play wasn’t suspected in the deaths of the couple, who had been living quietly in their Old Sunset Trail Road home since stepping away from the Hollywood spotlight in 2004.

The autopsy revealed that Gene Hackman had advanced Alzheimer’s disease, and officials suggested he might have been unaware of his wife’s passing during his final days. Medical experts noted that while the iconic actor’s exact mental state before and after his wife’s death remains unclear, he was found in “very poor health” with no food in his stomach, though he wasn’t dehydrated when he died.

Gene Hackman on July 17, 1984. Photo Credit: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch

“We cannot definitively determine the exact time or date of death through any reliable scientific method,” stated Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner at the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, during a Friday press conference outside the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office. “Mr. Hackman’s pacemaker data showed cardiac activity on Feb. 17, followed by atrial fibrillation on Feb. 18. Given the circumstances, we can reasonably conclude that Ms. Hackman died first, with Feb. 11 being her last confirmed day alive.”

During the press conference, Jarrell revealed the findings from both Hackmans’ autopsies. She detailed that Gene Hackman’s examination showed severe cardiac disease, including signs of multiple heart surgeries and previous heart attacks. The beloved actor’s autopsy also revealed significant kidney damage resulting from long-term hypertension.

The examination of his brain tissue indicated advanced Alzheimer’s disease, along with blood vessel alterations in the brain, which Jarrell explained were secondary effects of chronic high blood pressure, as she informed reporters on Friday.

Tragically, Betsy Hackman succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome—a severe respiratory illness transmitted through contact with infected rodents—at least a week before what investigators believe to be Gene Hackman’s passing. The virus, part of a family that spreads to humans through rodent contact, typically manifests symptoms within one to eight weeks of exposure. Initial symptoms can mirror those of the flu before rapidly progressing to severe respiratory distress, dangerous drops in blood pressure, and eventual organ failure.

October 24, 2007: Gene Hackman spotted while out and about in New York City today. Photo Credit: Dara Kushner/INFphoto.com

Surveillance footage captured Betsy Hackman’s final public appearances on Feb. 11, as she visited several local establishments including CVS, a market, and a pet supply store, Sheriff Mendoza reported. He noted that her computer showed no activity after what appears to be her last email exchange with a massage therapist that same day, marking her final known communication outside the residence.

“We’ve confirmed there was no additional outgoing communication from her or known activity after Feb. 11, 2025,” the Sheriff stated, adding that authorities were collaborating with state police “to get the information from [cell] phones.”

During Friday’s briefing, Dr. Jarrell confirmed that Gene Hackman’s autopsy revealed no evidence of hantavirus infection.

Officials at the press conference took a moment to correct previous reports, emphasizing that Betsy Hackman should not be referenced by her maiden name, Arakawa.

Gene Hackman on April 18, 2006. Photo Credit: MediaPunch/INSTARimages

Among the couple’s three dogs, Zinnia, an Australian Kelpie mix, was discovered deceased in a crate near the bathroom where Betsy Hackman was found. Officials explained that the dog’s recent surgery likely explained its separation from the couple’s two German Shepherds in the crated space.

The investigation into the Hackmans’ deaths began on Feb. 26 when authorities discovered the bodies of the couple and their dog at the residence. Reports indicated a concerning pattern of isolation—Gene Hackman hadn’t communicated with one of his daughters for months, while Betsy had stopped her regular weekly calls with her mother in Hawaii.

At Friday’s press conference, Dr. Erin Phipps, New Mexico Department of Health’s state public health veterinarian, shared crucial information about hantavirus, noting that the strain common to the American southwest carries a mortality rate of 38 to 50 percent. She emphasized that person-to-person transmission of the virus doesn’t occur in the United States.